Array of toys simulating a vehicle control panel

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to children&#39;s toys, and particularly to an array of toys that may be attached to a baby boat or stroller, or may be used independently in or out of a bathtub, pool, or other body of water, to stimulate and entertain a child by providing a simulated control panel or dashboard panel of a boat or other vehicle. The toys are affixed to an inflatable body member, at least one of the toys being in fluid communication with the inflatable body member so that as the body member is inflated, that toy is simultaneously inflated

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/433,316, entitled “BUOYANT ARRAY OFTOYS,” filed on Dec. 13, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to children's toys, and particularly to an arrayof toys that may be attached to a baby boat or stroller, or may be usedindependently in or out of a bathtub, pool, or other body of water, tostimulate and entertain a child by providing a simulated control panelor dashboard panel of a boat or other vehicle. The toys are affixed toan inflatable body member, one or more of the toys being in fluidcommunication with the inflatable body member so that as the body memberis inflated, the toy is also inflated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Beach and pool toys are immensely popular consumer items. Many suchitems are designed for children, such as baby boats and floats in whichthe child may be seated. An example is the recreational flotation deviceof U.S. Design Patent D679,770, which provides an inflatable U-shapedmain body having a seat area, combined with a removable kickboard.

The device of the instant invention may be used with such a baby boat orfloat. For a boat having a curved front end, such as that of U.S. DesignPatent D679,770, the body of the device may be curved to match generallythe curvature of the front end, so that the body of the device may reston that end of the boat, partially surrounding the child. Variousobjects comprising the toy array, such as a toy steering wheel, a horn,a push-button electronic noise-maker, a bell, a squeaker, and/or arattle, are intended to catch the attention of the child and to provideamusement, while stimulating the child's mental and physical abilities.In particular, the array of toys simulates a vehicle control panel ordashboard.

The device of the instant invention may be removably attached to thebaby boat by known means, such as straps, buckles, or hook-and-loopfasteners. The device may likewise be removably attached to a strolleror car seat, or allowed to float by itself in a bathtub or pool. Or ifthe body of the device is appropriately shaped, it may be secured aroundthe waist of a child while he or she stands or walks, or it may beplaced in the child's lap while he or she sits.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of various non-limitingembodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying figures. In cases where the present specification and adocument incorporated by reference include conflicting and/orinconsistent disclosures, the present specification shall control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which areschematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures,each identical or nearly identical component illustrated is typicallyrepresented by a single numeral. For purposes of clarity, not everycomponent is labeled in every figure, nor is every component of eachembodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary toallow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. Inthe figures:

FIG. 1 depicts an array of toys in accordance with one embodiment of theinstant invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an array of toys in accordance with another embodiment ofthe instant invention, as seen from the side facing the child.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of a child seated in a baby boat and facing adevice of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 depicts the device of the instant invention attached to a babystroller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an array of toys 10, comprising inflatable body 12having, in this embodiment, an arcuate shape. Attached to body 12 areseveral toys: item 14 is a toy steering wheel that may include at itscenter a button 16 that, when pushed, emits the beeping sound of avehicle horn. Item 18 is intended to replicate a mirror, and may includea ball inside having a light that is motion-activated when the childpushes or hits the mirror. Item 20, projecting from main body 12, mayinclude a squeaking means, and item 22, also projecting from main body12, may be a rattle. Toys 18, 20, and 22 are preferably constructed of asoft plastic material, which may be the same soft plastic material asbody 12, and are in fluid communication with body 12 so that when thebody 12 is being inflated these three items are also being inflated.Item 24 may be a simulated starting button which, when pushed, emits asound like that of an engine starting.

Strap 26 may be employed to removably attach the device 10 to astroller, car seat, or baby boat by connecting it to a correspondingstrap projecting from the baby boat, stroller, etc. (not shown) byattachment means such as hook-and-loop fasteners.

FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of the instant invention: an array oftoys comprising buoyant body 30 having an arcuate shape like thatdepicted in FIG. 1. Attached to body 30 are several toys in array: item34 is a toy steering wheel that may include at its center a button 36that, when pushed, emits the beeping sound of a vehicle horn. Item 38 isintended to replicate a sea shell, and may include a ball inside havinga light that is motion-activated when the child pushes or squeezes theshell. Item 40, projecting from main body 30, may include a squeakingmeans, and item 32, also projecting from main body 30, may be a rattle.Items 32, 38, and 40 are preferably constructed of a soft plasticmaterial, which may be the same soft plastic material as body 30, andare in fluid communication therewith so that when body 30 is beinginflated these three items are also being inflated. Item 42 may be asimulated starting button (as in the embodiment of FIG. 1) which, whenpushed, emits a sound like that of an engine starting.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the placement of the device of the instantinvention at the front edge of a baby boat, with a baby seated in theboat adjacent the device. FIG. 4 depicts the device of the instantinvention attached to a baby stroller.

From the description of at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, various alterations, modifications, and improvements willreadily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations,modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the scope andspirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is byway of example only and is not intended to be limiting.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been describedand illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readilyenvision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing thefunctions and/or obtaining the results and/or one of more of theadvantages described herein, and each of such variations and/ormodifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatall parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations describedherein are mean to be exemplary and the actual parameters, dimensions,materials and/or configurations will depend upon the specificapplication or applications for which the teachings of the presentinvention is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or beable to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, manyequivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention describedherein. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing embodimentsare presented by way of example only and that, with the scope of theappended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The presentinvention is directed to each individual feature, system, article,material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combinationof two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/ormethods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methodsare not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A amusement device for children comprising: aninflatable body having an arcuate shape to partly surround the child; aplurality of toys arrayed on an external surface of the inflatable body,at least one of said toys being inflatable and in fluid communicationwith the inflatable body, said plurality of toys simulating a controlpanel of a vehicle.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable bodyis comprised of a soft plastic material.
 3. The device of claim 2wherein the at least one toy in fluid communication with the inflatablebody is comprised of a soft plastic material.
 4. The device of claim 3wherein the at least one toy in fluid communication with the inflatablebody is comprised of the same soft plastic material as the inflatablebody.
 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising attachment means forremovably attaching the inflatable body to a baby boat or float.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1 further comprising attachment means for removablyattaching the inflatable body to a child's stroller.
 7. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the inflatable body is adapted to be placed partlyaround the waist of a child and remain secured to the child withoutadditional attachment means.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein one of thetoys is a simulated steering wheel.
 9. The device of claim 1 where oneof the toys emits the sound of an engine starting when activated by thechild.
 10. The device of claim 1 where one of the toys emits the soundof a vehicle horn when activated by the child.
 11. The device of claim 1where one of the toys simulates a vehicle rear-view mirror.
 12. Anamusement device for children comprising an inflatable body and aplurality of toys attached to said inflatable body, at least one of saidtoys being inflatable and in fluid communication with the inflatablebody, so that when the inflatable body is being inflated, the at leastone toy is simultaneously inflated.
 13. The device of claim 12 whereinsaid plurality of toys simulates a control panel of a vehicle.